Unity free for Xbox One developers

Popular development platform Unity will be free for all Xbox One developers, it has been announced.

Those who have registered with the ID@Xbox program will soon be given the Xbox One deployment add-on free-of-charge. The deal is open to any developer, not just partners to Microsoft Games Studios.

A special free Xbox One version of Unity Pro is also being developed.

The Unity add-on for Microsoft's next-gen console will support Kinect, SmartGlass and the impulse triggers of the new Xbox controller.

Microsoft said that developers will now effectively be able to deploy their games to all Microsoft platforms, given existing Unity support for Windows Phone and Windows 8.

Early testing for Unity on Xbox One will begin soon. The full beta program will start in 2014.

"Our two companies are aligned in our goals of furthering the democratisation of game development and the expanded role of independent studios in today’s gaming ecosystem," said Unity CEO David Helgason.

"2014 is going to be an amazing year for gamers, in large part because of the efforts of smaller studios and the creative works you’re producing."

Unity's deal with Microsoft for the Xbox One is similar to the partnership the middleware firm struck with Nintendo for the Wii U, which also offers free Unity support to developers.